Tonight; the debut of NXT on USA Network! This one’s a long time coming and it’s sure to be a special show. First half on USA, second on the WWE Network. We have a North American title match, a brutal street fight and a Fatal Four Way match to determine the No. 1 Contender to the NXT Women’s Championship! Like a mini-TakeOver all on it’s own, really. My name is Jordan Huie and I’m happy to be here to recap this show for you all! Watch this space!
We first see Triple H in a vignette. He explains there are moments in life where everything changes in the blink of an eye. He says we are not the future, we are now. This is defiant, groundbreaking, undisputed and unapologetic. We are not your kind. We are live. And we are NXT. Let us show you, he says… before pulling back the curtain and walking onto the stage.
First out is Io Shirai and the production budget increase here is immediate.
Io Shirai vs. Bianca Belair vs. Mia Yim vs. Candice LeRae (Winner becomes No. 1 Contender to the NXT Women’s Championship)
Swiftly Io and Mia are taken out of the ring as Bianca gets Candice with a shoulder block. Shows off her strength by hoisting Candice up in a Military Press for a good few seconds before taking her down. Handspring (knocking Io off the apron) into a moonsault to Candice gets a 2 count! Mia comes in only to get suplexed by Bianca. Mia taken up into the middle rope, Bianca whips Io to the ropes only for her to hit a 619 on Mia! Springboard Missile Dropkick to Belair for a 2 count! Off to a hot start.
Mia Yim with a Tornado DDT on Bianca, kicking Io away in the process! Candice breaks up the pin. She pummels Mia in the corner, gets Io with a facebuster onto the apron! But Candice is caught with a Fallaway Slam out onto the ramp! Mia hits the ropes – Suicide Dive takes out Bianca and Candice! First “NXT” chant of the night… just before Io goes up for a top rope moonsault to the floor taking everyone down! Commercial break. Hot damn!
We come back to a Tower Of Doom! Candice with a super powerbomb to Io who was suplexing Mia who was suplexing Bianca! Candice locks Mia in an Octopus Stretch, Bianca rips her out of it for a Spinebuster, but Io then immediately gets her with a Double Arm Backbreaker! This is really hard to call, Bianca tries the KOD on Candice but Mia gets a Code Blue on her instead, Io breaks up the fall! I have missed some spots I apologize. Double spear from Bianca Belair takes out Io and Yim! Bianca with the KOD to Candice!!! But Mia breaks it up! Protect Ya Neck follows! Bianca manages to roll out of the ring to avoid the pin though, Io dropkicks Mia out of the ring! Meteora in the corner to Candice! She goes up top… wants the moonsault but Mia shoves her off, onto Bianca to the floor! Mia goes up top but Candice cuts her off! Mia slips underneath her, wants a powerbomb… reverses to an Electric Chair position but Candice counters with a Poison Rana! Lionsault follows and that! Is! It!
Winner: Candice LaRae
Man that was impeccable. Definitely check this out as soon as you can ’cause for once I couldn’t even keep up writing it all. Afterwards, Candice is greeted on the stage by Ronda Rousey’s Friends, aka Shayna Baszler and her henchwomen. They try to intimidate her, show off the title and such.
But yeah that was probably the best women’s match NXT has had this year, with the only possible exception being Candice and Io’s TakeOver match. That was more psychologically sound obviously, but this was just such a wild match, what a great statement to open up NXT on USA with.
Adam Cole and Velveteen Dream are getting ready backstage.
Recap video of the spectacle of a match that was Keith Lee and Donovan Dijakovic. A rematch is announced for next week! That’ll be awesome. Hype video for Matt Riddle and Killian Dain, long-standing issue here finally getting blown off tonight. The two just cannot stop going to war with each other regardless of where they are!
Sean Maluta vs. Cameron Grimes
Aaaaand Double Foot Stomp to the chest.
Winner: Cameron Grimes
Well that was an easy one to write. Grimes may have just won the shortest match in NXT history.
Vignette plays for Velveteen Dream vs. Roderick Strong. NXT’s greatest showman vs. NXT’s top hand. That match is next!
NXT North American Championship: Velveteen Dream (c) vs. Roderick Strong
Grappling session begins, Velveteen gets an arm wringer in. Roderick reverses into a hammerlock. Velveteen kips up out of it, Roderick vaults over him, clothesline takes Strong to the floor. Roddy hops to the apron, Velveteen goes down to pose seductively, staring him down. Roddy hops to the floor, pounding the apron in frustration. Commercial break. We come back from a shoulder block from Dream. Vaults over him, staredown on the mat… he slides out, Roddy pursues but gets tripped. Dream back in the ring, dropkick, cover for a quick kickout. Dream springs up in the corner, spinning axe handle. Roddy bails, Dream goes up, Double Axehandle off the top to the floor. Rolls Roddy into the ring, tries to follow but Roddy with a boot cuts him off. Roddy goes out, back suplexes him onto the barrier!
Roddy goes into the ring, just to get Dream with a baseball slide. Takes him up on the outside, STO’s him onto the apron! Drags into the ring, cover, but Dream with an immediate kickout. Roddy gets Dream down into a headlock. Dream tries to roll out of it but Roddy has it in good! Dream reverses for a cover but Roddy escapes. Takes him to the corner for some ruthless chops! Works over the back with a leaping stomp. Looks for a Surfboard Stretch of sorts but Dream rolls away, Roddy gets another headlock in. Dream gets to his feet, Jawbreaker breaks the hold! Clothesline ducked, Roddy catches him with a Pendulum Backbreaker! 2 count.
Big time Uranage Backbreaker follows for another nearfall! Roddy looking for the Stronghold, Dream resists, Roddy wants a catapult instead but Dream stands it up, looks for the Sharpshooter! Roddy kicks him away, takes him outside, whiffs another baseball slide, and Dream takes him right into the steps! Back from break, Roddy has Dream in the corner with more chops. Takes him up top. Wants a Superplex, the two get into a slugfest up there! Dream wins out, knocking Roddy to the mat! Dream comes off with a flying Double Axehandle starting his comeback. Superkick! Nearfall. Rolls him into the Fireman’s Carry, Roddy escapes, but eventually finds himself taking the DreamDT! Nearfall! Roddy gets out onto the apron, Dream tries for a suplex, they’re both looking for it now… Roddy takes Dream to the apron, Dream looks for a Dream Valley Driver, Roddy escapes, single leg dropkick catches Dream flush in the face! “This Is Wrestling” chant starts as Roddy gets the double arm, drags him to his feet on the canvas, Dream escapes. Running knee catches Dream hard in the face! Roddy hooks Dream’s arms up in the ropes! Roddy hits the ropes and catches him with one running elbow after another going back and forth! Tiger bomb, Dream kicks out but Roddy transitions right into the Strong Hold!
Dream is caught right in the middle! He is struggling! Loud chants of “No!” as he tries to power himself to the ropes, but Roddy keeps turning him… but no, Dream makes it, breaking the hold! And now out comes the rest of the Undisputed Era at ringside! Dream wins out a fistfight, hits a back body drop. Dream sees he’s surrounded, Strong gets him with a trip that takes him right into the referee, taking him out! Dream gets Strong with the Dream Valley Driver! In come TUE, Dream catches one with a superkick, knocks another off the apron – Roddy with a jumping knee strike leading directly into the End of Heartache! But it… somehow this still isn’t over?! Dream barely kicks out! Gets to his feet… Dream Valley Driver! Goes up top! But Cole with a superkick; the ref was distracted! Strong with another End of Heartache and that is it!
Winner: Roderick Strong
Cool match and exactly the finish I wanted. Roderick Strong finally getting singles accolades for all his efforts, and now Dream can officially make the move up to challenging Adam Cole!
And thus we go to the WWE Network.
We of course see TUE still celebrating as we open up the second hour. Candice/Shayna is made official, announced for October 2nd – NXT’s first night head-to-head with AEW.
Pete Dunne vs. Arturo Ruas
Mat grappling starts us out, Pete has to break in the ropes. Ruas with a flashy flying leg scissors takes him down, the two trade Cross Armbreaker attempts, both have to break and stand. Trading huge punches now! Ruas gets him in a choke – Pete with a stomp to his bare feet! Ruas gets whipped, Dunne meets him with a lariat! Grabs the arm, manipulates the joints, vicious arm stomp! Positions the hand again but Ruas manages to escape! Body shots, knee lift to the face, cartwheel into a single leg dropkick! Mounts and rains down clubbering blows, pinfall for a quick kickout. Ruas grabs Dunne’s hand and slams it into the mat, much like Dunne would do to others.
Roundhouse kicks to the chest, but Dunne gets up, huge chops to Ruas’ chest until Ruas cuts him off with a kick to the shin, tripping him up. Dunne catches a roundhouse kick, snaps a toe! Dragon Screw Legwhip takes him to the mat! Dunne with some strikes, gets whipped, flips over him, step-up enziguri, Release German Suplex, double stomp to the hands, roundhouse kick to the head for a nearfall! And then he gets him with another! X-Plex, nearfall! Kick to the arm, wicked stomps to the face, triangle choke! Ruas gets to his feet, cartwheels out of it! Capoeria Kick, into a German Suplex, Dunne barely gets out! Dunne with an upkick, but gets met with a leaping knee! Another cartwheel into a dropkick but Dunne evades it, enziguri, front suplex into another triangle, snap of the fingers as he bends the arm back – and there is the tap.
Winner: Pete Dunne
Thought for sure that was another squash but that was good! Ruas has obviously developed a lot, and I appreciate that they haven’t taken his strengths away, he’s bringing a pretty unique style to the ring. Good stuff!
And they suddenly out of nowhere announce that Lio Rush will be facing off with Oney Lorcan in a Cruiserweight title No. 1 Contender’s match! Just jumping right into this Cruiserweights-on-NXT thing, I dig it! Also it’ll be great to see Lio back!
Xia Li vs. Aliyah
Xia gets her into a headlock, pushed away, handstand on the corner, gets to the apron, kicks her away, rolls in for a running dropkick! Trade of waistlocks, Aliyah with a boot to the stomach, but Xia gets her with a jawbreaker. Baits her into the corner, sliding legsweep. Goes up top, but falls off unfortunately, just a botch there. Hops up and gets a running dropkick anyway, series of heel kicks. Legsweep takes Aliyah down, Tornado Kick and that’s that.
Winner: Xia Li
So one pretty bad botch but I imagine not one that affected things too much, and she’s new. Sorta bad luck that it’d happen on the one live NXT ep but hey. Xia’s act is one that tends to get over in front of most crowds.
Denzel Dejournette comes out and I have never even heard of him before but he’s very popular. Kinda common with Fullsail. He’s out here to get squashed by Kushida… but the Imperium, minus WALTER, make their way out and jump him in the ring! Big german suplex from Wolfe drops him. Powerbomb/Flying European Uppercut from Martel and Aichner finish the job. Chant of “Where is WALTER?” as Imperium pose… and the theme hits – out comes the man himself to a huge ovation! Walter takes up the mic to let us know that they’re Imperium and to them, the mat is sacred. To anyone who doesn’t respect their traditions, they will have to answer to the Ring General.
Kushida’s music hits… he makes his way to the stage. He has a mic and says this is his time as he quickly goes down the ramp! Kushida gets on the apron and makes a challenge to WALTER, and they all charge! He manages to dump Wolfe, Aichner and Martel but WALTER grabs him, drags him into the ring… but thanks to his vest he’s able to slip out of WALTER’s hands! Dropkick gets some distance, and Kush manages to escape! WALTER is seething as Kushida makes his way backstage. Can’t say it’s a match I ever expected but it sounds great!
Oney Lorcan vs. Lio Rush (WWE Cruiserweight Championship No. 1 Contender’s Match)
“Welcome back” chant for Lio… bell rings and Oney explodes into him with a huge running uppercut! Another two, and a running blockbuster for a nearfall! This one will be quick-paced! Half-nelson, Rush with a snapmare gets him to the apron, handspring knocks him to the floor and Lio with a suicide dive! And then a second, huge one! And a third, taking him way up the ramp! Damn! Back in the ring, springboard headscissors from Rush, Matrix duck into an enziguri, 2 count! Roundhouse kicks as Oney’s on his knees, dueling chant begins! Oney catches a leg, Dragon Screw Legwhip! Chops in the corner! Whips him to the corner, Lio ends up hung up in the ropes, catches some brutal uppercuts in the corner. Oney drags him out, Stun Gun, another uppercut takes him to the floor! Lio has to beat the count. Oney with a deadlift Gutwrench Powerbomb for a nearfall! Man that’s some strength.
Lio tries to fight out of it, brings the punches and chops, but Oney gets him into a crisp single-leg boston crab! Major torque on that leg! Lio rolls, upkicks gets him away. Big chop to the chest takes Lio down! Scoop slam for a pin, two count. Lio continues trying to fight back, hits the ropes but gets another chop! Yet another vicious one to the chest! Whip to the ropes, Lio somehow springboards from a seated position on the bottom rope back into a crazy stunner, nearfall! Ridiculous! Lio goes up top, Oney avoids the flying manuever, Rush lands on his feet but favors the knee… Oney gets the advantage back, VIOLENT powerbomb leads to another single leg boston crab! Rush is in trouble! But he kicks him away… trips him down, looks for a reverse roundhouse, but Oney catches the leg into another Single Leg Boston Crab! My God!
Drags him to the middle, transitions to an STF! Lio is fading… but comes back alive, fights mightily to get to the ropes as he gets his legs away. Oney still with a tight headlock, “FIGHT LIO FIGHT” chant spurs him to get a foot onto the ropes to break the hold! Oney seems to be preparing the chop to end them all… grabs Lio by the chin, tries to take his head off but Lio ducks it, combination of quick kicks, gets Oney with a huge slap to the face! But Oney is furious! Grabs the chin, slaps the ever loving crap out of him! Charges… right into a C-4!!! Lio up top… Split-Legged Frog Splash and that! Is! It!
Winner: Lio Rush
Absolutely hella. What a night-and-day difference it is to put these matches on in front of a crowd that cares. Fantastic battle. Great to see Lio back and he will almost certainly take that Cruiserweight title off of Gulak sooner than later.
And after all that, I can’t believe we still have this main event…
Street Fight: Matt Riddle vs. Killian Dain
Dain immediately runs in for the running dropkick! Riddle gets him with a deadlift German Suplex! Exploder suplex follows! Chant of “Bro” leads to a Broton attempt but Dain gets the knees up! They spill to the outside where Dain brings out a kendo stick! Riddle avoids the swing, catches him with a pele kick! Takes up the cane and meets him it in the stomach! Runs at him for another strike but gets a back body drop over the barricade! Dain takes up the kendo stick and pursues into crowd area – shots of the cane and a flattening senton against the concrete follow! Riddle tries to fight back, but Dain whips him against a couple of doors. The fight goes backstage, Dain slams Riddle into the side of a semi truck! They spill past the Forgotten Sons and Imperium… WALTER and the others jump Riddle! And suddenly a ton of superstars are in on the fight! Burch, Lorcan, Dunne, The Street Profits, Imperium, Pete Dunne, and the Sons all involved! Dain and Riddle fight back to the ringside area, and the rest of the locker room follows them! Huge chant of “NXT!” as there’s wild brawling everywhere! Riddle gets Dain with a double leg… but the security stops them? They’re the ones who are actually supposed to be fighting!
The ring fills with superstars and security and this is some Pier 6 stuff here! Another chant of “NXT!” and there is no calling this! Even more people are getting involved, I spotted Angel Garza… the ring is cleared aside from Dain! Huge suicide dive from Dain takes out like seven dudes! The brawl continues as we go off the air.
No contest
Holy hell. I’m a bigger supporter of AEW than perhaps anyone but this was a clear message.
I’m done being concerned about NXT. If changes happen I’ll be frightened, but for now, I’m so excited. This war is gonna rule!
Amazing episode, tons of great matches, exciting finish.
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